2022
An RNA-binding protein acts as a major post-transcriptional modulator in Bacillus anthracis
Pi H, Weiss A, Laut C, Grunenwald C, Lin H, Yi X, Stauff D, Skaar E. An RNA-binding protein acts as a major post-transcriptional modulator in Bacillus anthracis. Nature Communications 2022, 13: 1491. PMID: 35314695, PMCID: PMC8938561, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29209-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHuman pathogen Bacillus anthracisRNA-binding proteinPost-transcriptional modulatorsPathogen Bacillus anthracisDetectable nuclease activityTwo-component systemBacillus anthracisGenetic competenceRNA turnoverDNA repairMRNA stabilityCellular metabolismNuclease activityEnvelope damageRNAProteinMultiple processesAnthracisHITRSporulationGenesMRNAExpressionMetabolismTurnover
2020
Directed evolution reveals the mechanism of HitRS signaling transduction in Bacillus anthracis
Pi H, Chu M, Ivan S, Latario C, Toth A, Carlin S, Hillebrand G, Lin H, Reppart J, Stauff D, Skaar E. Directed evolution reveals the mechanism of HitRS signaling transduction in Bacillus anthracis. PLOS Pathogens 2020, 16: e1009148. PMID: 33362282, PMCID: PMC7790381, DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009148.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHAMP domainSignal transductionGenetic selectionUnbiased genetic selectionCell envelope stressPathogen Bacillus anthracisSignal transduction systemImportant signal transduction systemMechanistic understandingBacillus anthracisComprehensive mechanistic understandingNumerous point mutationsEnvelope stressTransduction systemMolecular basisMutational analysisPoint mutationsTransductionRate-limiting stepIndividual domainsSpecific interactionsSignal sensingHITRAnthracisSystematic characterization